LGBT Rights Debate To Pit LGB Against T

A debate is shaping up in the Michigan House on whether Michigan's civil rights law should be expanded to protect gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from discrimination. There's also a fight brewing on whether those protections should extent to transgender people.

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Rick Pluta reports on legislation under consideration that would include protections for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexuals, but not Transgender individuals.

And House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) said he would only support adding "sexual orientation" (but not "gender identity") to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act if the Legislature adopts a law to grant exceptions for many people with religious objections. "Nobody should be discriminated against because of who they are, just as nobody should be forced to violate their faith," Bolger said.

Rep. Frank Foster (R-Petoskey) ended months of anticipation when he submitted the bill to add lesbians, gays, and bisexuals to the civil rights act. He says - even without mentioning transgender people - expanding the civil rights law would be progress. "Not everyone is perfectly happy, but I think we're still moving an issue forward that's been a long time in the making," said Foster, who said he personally favors adding "gender identity" to the law, even if it's not in his bill.

Bolger says the addition is superfluous and unnecessary, and would oppose any effort to bring that question to a vote.

Democrats and many LGBT advocates say they'll oppose what they consider a partial solution that would leave transgender people vulnerable to discrimination. "The LGBT community is a community, and we should protect them so there is not any discrimination in employment or housing," said Rep. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), who has sponsored a bill to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the civil rights law. "Any bill that does not include all those elements is a discriminatory bill."

LGBT advocates say they will work to kill the less-inclusive package and work, instead, to put the question on the statewide ballot in 2016.

The state Legislature reconvenes Wednesday to continue its "lame duck" session between now and the end of the year.

Democrats fear Republican leaders will take up a bill that would assign the state's Electoral College votes for president by congressional district.

"Probably at the top of my list of concerns is the Republican bill to rig how Electoral College votes are allocated in this state," House Minority Leader Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills, told reporters last week.

The Michigan Supreme Court hosted a training day for judges and others assigned to work in specialty veterans courts. Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Young says veterans accused and convicted of crimes have unique issues that must be addressed if they're going to be rehabilitated.

ACLU of Michigan director denies major roadblocks for LGBT rights in Legislature

Groups that support adding LGBT protections to Michigan’s civil rights law say they’re confident state lawmakers will act this year. That’s despite some recent setbacks.

State House Speaker Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, says he wants to make sure the measure doesn’t infringe on religious liberties. And people working closely on the issue say some Republican lawmakers don’t want to include transgender people in the legislation.

The list of groups calling on state lawmakers to pass protections for LGBT people is growing. Organizations representing Michigan college, university, and school officials now say they support the measure.

They join more than 50 business and non-profit groups urging lawmakers to pass the legislation, which the coalition expects to be introduced next month.

The local LGBT community is hopeful the state legislature will take Governor Rick Snyder up on his challenge for them to vote on civil rights protections for the LGBT community before the November elections.

Mary Larkin directs Eastern Michigan University's LGBT Resource Center. She says EMU's LGBT students are a talented bunch who can't wait to get out of Michigan because of the state's outdated civil rights laws.